PROFILE: Sisters offer high-end consignment shopping

The one with the closet full of clothes made of rich fabrics and envious amounts of jewelry.

That one relative was the inspiration behind the name displayed on Mesilla's newest high-end consignment store: My Rich Sister's Closet, located at 1937 Calle de Parian.

"We sell gently used high-end articles of clothing and jewelry," said Lisa Smith, who co-owns the store with her sister Donna Rosati.

"We are trying to stay at the high-end of the resale. We take things in that are name brand," Rosati said, adding that the sisters initially filled the shelves and nooks of the store with items from their own closets.

"For the most part, it's been really nice stuff. We take it in, look at it and see what we think will be appropriate for the store. We've had really good stuff so far," Rosati said.

The store currently has over 60 local vendors, who Smith said bring in their gently used, high-end items to be put on display. Following appraisal by the store owners, a price is set for the item and all money made from the product is split 50/50 between My Rich Sister's Closet and the vendor.

The item is placed on display for 60 days before it is marked down to half price. After 90 days, Rosati said if the item hasn't been sold, it is donated to a local women's shelter or given back to owner.

"Every month we have a 50 percent off sale. We have purses, jewelry, clothing.

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Right now we have a vintage mink coat from the 40s or 50s and a vintage leather skirt from a New York designer. It's just beautiful. It's one-of-a-kind," Smith said.

As women peruse the unique items the "closet" has to offer, Smith said there is a seating area usually stocked with goodies for men who have been dragged to the store by their female counterparts.

"We have some designers I hadn't heard of. We have really exclusive things, and things from Aeropostale and Hollister. We also have a very nice shoe collection. There's an eclectic mix. If it's really nice, we'll take it," Smith said of the merchandise patrons can expect to find in the Mesilla store.

There is also a small children's section and a small men's section that the sisters said they hope to expand throughout the year.

In the beginning

Smith said the idea for the store came with the impending retirement of Rosati, who has been an educator for 16 years, currently teaching history and world government at Mayfield High School.

After Smith moved to Las Cruces from Arizona last year, she said she found it difficult to find employment, and she and her sister began brainstorming about opening their own business.

"We looked at several things, and a consignment shop was one of the top 10 up-and-coming businesses, so we decided to try it," Rosati said.

My Rich Sister's Closet was the brain child of the creative siblings, and the rest — like many facets of Mesilla — is history.

Swap parties

Shortly after their opening in fall 2012, Rosati said My Rich Sister's Closet hosted a Little Black Dress Swap Party, where women brought a gently used black dress to exchange with other local women.

"It was pretty successful. The ladies had a good time. They got to choose two dresses and we have a fashion show. They really got into the modeling walk, and it was a chance to meet new people," she said.

In February, Rosati said they hope to host a similar event, possibly a Sweetheart Swap, where red dresses will be exchanged around Valentine's Day.

The store occasionally also offers deals for patrons who spend a certain amount of money, where they get to choose a free service, like a mini-cure — free nail painting — a hair style, or make-up tips from an in-store expert.

"That's always really fun, it's very girly-girl," Rosati said.

Matlin Smith can be reached at 575-541-5468; follow her on Twitter @msmith_lcsun.

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